snyder



,1927. S'SNYDER Re; 59

GRAIN CR ACKING MACHINE 1 Original riled Dec. 31. 1924 2 Sheets-Shoe! 1 55. SNYDER Gnu! cRAcKInG' IACHINE Oct. 4, 1927.

Origindl Filed Dec. 31.11924 2 Shoots-Shag! 2 Reissued Oct. 4, 1927.

UNITEDISTATES PATEN Re. 1 ,759 r OFFICE.

sIMoN SNYDER, OF'MUNC'Y, rENNsYLvANIA, ASSIGNOR TO sraonr, WALDRON & 00., or MUNCY, PENNSYLVANIA, A ooaPoRA'rIo OF PENNSYLVANIA.

GRAIN-CRACKING MACHINE.

Original No. 1,560,433, dated Hovember 3, 1925, Serial No. 759,077, filed-December 31, 1924. Application for reissue filed August 17,1927. Serial No. 213,713. I

This invention relates to grain reducing or cracking machines, and more particularly to machines for cracking corn.

The primary object of my invention is to improve the construction and increase the efliciency of machines of'the same general 3 character as the machme shown, having a knife-carrying shaft journaled in bearings in an enclosing casing having knives or cutters protruding therethrough on opposite sidesinto operative relation to the knives or cutterson therevolving shaft and having a single perforated plate or screen supported underneath the shaft on a frame structure hinged at one side of the casing and detachablysecured at the other side thereof, so as to adapt it to swing downwardly upon its hinges into positionv for removlng and re-' placing the perforated plate or screen.

My invention resides in providing such machines with more screen surface and'more space through which the granulated material may pass out or into the lower part of the casing below the shaft, thereby mcrea's'ing the capacity of the machine and greatly reducing the quantity of meal or undesired product heretofore produced in using machines of the type referred to, and adapt- I the description.

ing a machine of less size'to have greater capacity and to be built at less expense than machines of the same type as heretofore constructed. I p V The invention will first be hereinafter more particularly described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are to be taken as a part of this specification, and then pointed out'in theclaims at the end of In said drawings, Fig.1 is a front view, partly in elevation and partly in section, of a machine embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional plan View of the same;.

r Fig. 3. is a vertical sectional elevation; the section being taken in different planes on opposite sides of the shaft;

j end portion of one of the upper screens, I showing the screen proper or perforated plate and its supporting frame as. an assem bled unit. I i X Referring to said drawings, in which the 4 same reference characters are used to-denote corresponding parts in different views, the letter A denotes an upper casing member of substantially semi-cylindrical-form mounted upon a lower casing member A the concave surface of the upper member facing downward and having its lower edges resting upon the upper edges of the lower member.

The two members are secured together by a one side, and providin its convex top and downwardly inclined flanges a, which extend along the margin of said opening on opposite sides thereof, said flanges converging toward their lower ends and each having a knife or cutter F adjustablyseeured thereto, each of the flanges having a shoulder at its base, so as to form a recess in which the knife issecured, by means of a set screw e passing through an oblong slot in the knife and screwed into a threaded hole in'the flange, so as to adapt the knife to be adjusted sidewise as its cutting edge wears away. Upwardly and outwardly extending flanges a are also preferably provided along the margin of the opening in the casing member A, to support the downwardly inclined converging side walls of a hopper E fitted in said opening with the lower edges of said sidewalls overlapping the upper edges of the knives F. 'Extending longitudinally of the casing, at the top of the lower member, on opposite sidesthereof,

and projecting inwardly therefrom toward the shaft 'D, are shelf-like supports G each having a knife 9 adjustably secured thereto,

preferably by means of set'screws 9 pass ing through oblong slots in the knife and screwed into threaded holes in the underlyadjusted'edgewise as its cutting edge wears away. The knives g are held firmly in place by means of set screws 9 inserted in thread.

mg support, so as to permit the knife to be with a clamping deed openings provided therefor in the knifeopposite sides supports G, the said screws having their inner ends bearing against the rear edges of the knives while the outer ends of the screws are of polygonal form for attaching thereto a suitable tool for turning the screw so as to move the knife toward the revolving shaft.

It will be observed that the construction of the upper portion of the casing and associated parts provides an enclosed arcuate space or chamber on each side of the knifecarrying shaft extending from the depending flange a to the knife-support G on the same side of the machine, and the inner side of said space is closed by a multieperforated plate I connecting the lower end of the de pending flange with the inner edge of the knife-support on the same side of the machine. The plates I are each secured to and held in place by a frame structure I having arcuate end portions 2' and parallel connecting bars i and to which are secured flanged metal plates or angler irons i and '6 respectively, on which are seated the upper and lower ends respectively, of the perforated plate I. The depending flange a forms an abutment for the upp'erend .of the frame structure 1 while the lower end thereof is supported upon the underlying knife-support; the flanged plates and i being interposed between the ends of the frame structure and the abutment and knifesupport, respectively. The lower frame bar i and underlying angle iron plate have registering notches, as at 71*", to receive the head of theset screw which secures the knife 9 to its support, and to-prevent movement or displacement of the frame structure wlth perforated plate or screen and attached flanged metal or angle iron end plates, the lower end thereof. abuts against lugs a on the insideof the casing member A while its upper end abuts against lugs a on the inside of said casing member back of the flanges a and a fastening bolt H protruding through a. hole in the casing and engagingan open-ended slot in a lug 2' projecting inwardly from the arcuate end portion i of the frame structure 1 serves to draw the frame structure tightly against said abutments or lugs and hold the assembled parts in place. Spanning the space between the kn1fesupports G on opposite sides of the casing underneath the shaft D, there is a lower curved multiperforated plate or screen K supported upon a bar L which extends longitudinally of the casing and has a cross-arm M rest. The cross-arms each have a forked end m and an apertured lugm at the other end thereof for'connection with eye-bolts N v and N respectively, suspended from the easing underneath the knife supp orts G on of the machine. Each eyebolt has a nut or nuts screwed on its lower end so as to provide rests or supports for at each end,- on which the ends of the perforated plate the ends of the cross-arm. A hinged con nection is thus formed between the casing and cross-arm of the lower screen supportat one side of the machine and a detachable connection between the casing and. the forked end of the cross-arm at the other side of the machine, so as to permit the forked ends of the cross-arms to be detached to allow the screen support to be lowered upon its hinges, for the purpose of removing the multi-perforated plate and substituting therefor another plate having a greater or less number of holes therein of smaller or larger size, to adapt the machine to produce granulated material of different degrees of fineness, according to the number and size of the holes in the multi-perforated plate. To permit access to the interior of the easing,'the"low er member thereof is provided on oneside with an opening and a detachable closure 0 for saidopening; said closure having marginal oiisct apertured flanges 0, through which set screws 0 are inserted and screwed into threaded holes in the casing member. It will be observed that the upper sections of the, multi-perforated plates are so housed or covered on the outside and spaced from the casing wallsthat the granulated product passing therethrcngh will find a free passage and be directed downwardly inside of the upper casing member through openings in the horizontal knife-supports and caused to pass into the same space that is provided in the lower casing member for the product issuing out of the perforations in the lower multi perforated plate.

A grain reducing or corn cracking machine of; the described construction has more screen surface than-similar machines as heretofore v constructed, having a lower screenonly through which the granulated material is discharged underneath the knifecarrying shaft, and owing to the factthat a large per cent of the granulated product is caused to pass through the upper perforated plates or screen sections the capacity of the machine is greatly increased while the amount of meal or undesired product produced in using such machines as heretofore constructed is greatly reduced. A machine of the described construction also requires less power to operate it and since the size of the machine can be reduced,-it canbe produced at less cost than a larger machine of the same type without the upper screen sections and adjacent arcuate chambers or passages and with only one screen located underneath the cutter-shaft, and the smaller machine will. have greater capacity than the larger one as heretofore constructed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim asnew and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A grain cracking or reducing machine comprisinga casing composed of upper and bers on opposite sides thereof into which granulated material is thrown by said rotary cutter and caused to pass by gravity into the lower casing member;.said receiving chambers having curved perforated plates spaced from the inner walls of the upper casing member and having openings in the bottoms thereof for the passage of granulated material therethrough. v

2. A grain crack ng or reducing machine comprising a casing composed'oi upper and lower members and having a rotary cutter therein and knives or cutters projecting inwardly from opposite sides thereof in cooperative relation to said rotary cutter; the lower casing member having a curved perforated plate therein arranged below the rotary cutter, and the upper casing member having a feed hopper and receiving chambers on opposite sides thereof into which granulated. material is thrown by. said rotary cutter and caused to pass by gravity into the lower ca iiig member; sa d receiving chambers having aperturcd bottoms and the outer and inner walls thereof being formed respectively, by the inner side walls of the casing and curved perforated said inner side walls. I

A grain cracking or reducing machine comprising a cssing composed of upper and lower members and having a rotary cutter plates spaced I from thereina idknives' or cutters projecting inwardly from oppos te sides thereof in cooperative relation to said rotary cutter; the

lower casing member having a curved perforated plate therein arranged below the rotary cutter, and the upper casing member having a 'feed hopper and IBCGlVlIlgCllLHlhers on opposite sides thereof into which granulated material is thrown by said rotary cutter and caused to pass by gravity into the lower casing member; said receiving chambers having apertared bottoms and the outer and inner walls thereof being formed respectively, by the inner side walls of the casing and curved perforated plates spaced from said inner side walls; said perforated plates being removable to permitthe substitution of similar plates having perforations therein of different sizes. a

4. A, grain cracking or reducing machine comprising a casing composed of upper and lower separable members and having a w crotary cutter therein and knives or cutters onrthe inner side thereof projecting inwardly'in co-operative-relation to said rotary of the casing and detachably secured perforated plates spaced from said walls and having iiperturedbottoms for the passage of granulated material therethrough; said lowercasing member having a perforated plate removably'secured therein underneath said rotary cutter.

In a machine for cracking orreducing grain, a casing having upper and lower members hinged together on one side and having means on the opposite side thereof for detachably securing them together, the upper casing member being of substantially semi-cylindrical form and having an oblong opening in its convex'top provided with marginal. depending flanges each having a knife adj ustabl y secured thereto; knife-supports on opposite sides of said casing at the lower end of the .upper casing member each having a knife or'cutter adjustably secured. thereto, a shaft journaled iii bearings within said casingfbetween said knife-supports and carrying a pluralityof knives, a curved spaced from the inner concave walls of the upper casing member so as to provide arcuate chambers between said walls and the conveir surfaces of the plates, and said knifesupports -having openings therein for the passage of granulated material to the lower casing member.

6. In a machine of the character described havingupper and lower casing members and knives or cutters on opposite sides'thereof at the lower end of the upper casing member, a. shaft carrying a plurality of"knives journaled inbearings in. said casing between the knives on the casing, a curved perforated plate underneath Saidhaft spanning the space between oppositely disposed knives on the casing, a support forsaid plate consistingot' a rod or bar extending lengthwise of the plate about midway'thereof underneath its lower convex surface and having cross-arms at each end, each crois-arm having an apertured lug at one end and an openended slot at the otherend, and means for hinging said crosszarms atone side of the casing and detachably securing them at the other side, said means consisting of eye-bolts ing engaging cutter-shaftthrough which the apertured lugs on said cross-arms at one side of the casing, and other similarly .suspended eye-bolts on the other side of the easthe open-ended slots on the other ends of said cross-arms, whereby the screen support may be lowered upon its hinged connections for the purpose of removing and replacing the screen.

7, In a machine for cracking or reducing gram, a casing having a shaft revolubly mounted therein, carrying a plurality of knives or cutters, said casing having a substantially semi-cylindrical member supported upon a base member with its concave surface facing said base member,the upper member having an oblong opening in its convex top provided with depending marginal. flanges, each having a knife or cutter secured thereto, a hopper fitted in said opening above said knives, knife-supports projecting inwardly from opposite sides of the casing toward said shaft, each having a knife or cutter adjustably secured thereto, and perforated metal plates arranged in circular form around said shaft, the lower plate spanning the space between said knife-supports underneath the shaft, and the upper plates connecting the knife-suppor s with said depending flanges on opposite sides of the upper casing member, whereby a chamber is provided on each side of the casing above the cutter-shaft through which granulated material may pass downwardly into the lower casing member.

8. In a machine for cracking or-reducing grain, a casing having shaft revolubly mounted therein carrying a plurality of knives or cutters, said casing having a substantially semi-cylindrical member supported upon a base member with its concave surface facing said base mcmber,-the upper member having an oblong opening in its convex top provided with depending marginal flanges each having a knife or cutterv secured thereto, a hopper fitted in said opening above said knives, knife-supports projecting inwardly from opposite sides of the casing toward said shaft, each having a knife or cutter adjustably secured thereto, and perforated metal plates arranged in circular form around said shaft, the lower plate spanning the space between said knife-supports underneath the shaft, and the upper plates connecting the knife-supports with said depending flanges on opposite sides of the upper casing member, whereby a chamber is provided on each side of the casing above the granulated material may pass downwardly into the lower casing member; said perforated plates being removable to permit the substitution of plates with holes of different sizes.

9. In a machine for cracking or reducing grain, a casing having upper and lower separable members; the upper member being of substantially semi-cylindrical form wlth its concave surface facing the lower member and having, a central feed opening plurality of knives or cutters, and a sectional screen surface encircling the cutter shaft; said screen surface consisting of a perforated curved metalplate underneath said shaft connecting the supports for said horizontal knives, and perforated curved metal plates arranged on opposite sides of said shaft each connecting the lower end of one of said flanges with the inner end of one of said supports, whereby arcuate chambers are formed on opposite sides of the casing between the inner concave walls thereof and the convex surfaces of the last mentioned plates; said knife supports forming the bot toms of said chambers and having openings therein for the passage of granulated material therethrough.

10. In a machine for cracking or reducing grain, a casing having an upper member of substantially semi-cylindrical form with an oblong opening in its convex top and downwardly inclined knives or .cutters adjustably secured thereto along the margin of said opening on opposite sides thereof and converging toward their lower ends, a shaft revolubly mounted within the casing and carrying a plurality of knives or cutters, knife-supports extending horizontally on 0pposite sides of the casing each having a knife or cutter adjustably secured thereto and projecting toward said shaft, upper perforated curved metal plates connecting said horizon tal knifessupports with the lower ends of the supports for said downwardly inc-lined knives so as to provide arcuate chambers on opposite sides of the casing between the in ner concave walls of said upper casing member and the convex surfaces of said perfoated plates; said knife supports having openings therein through which granulated material may pass downwardly into the lower casing member, and a lower perforated metal plate connecting said horizontal knifesupports underneath the cutter shaft.

11. In a machine for cracking or reducing grain, a casing having upper and lower I members with means for detachably securing them together, the upper casing member be ing of substantially semi-cylindrical form and having an oblong feed opening in its convex top and provided on opposite sides of said opening with depending flanges converging toward their lower ends and each having a knife adjustablyv secured thereto, knife-supports extending horizontally low said upper caslng member each -hav on opposite sides of saidfcasing being a knife or cutter adjustably secured thereto, a lower curved perforated plate untheir lower ends supported upon said knife-= supports and their up er ends abutting against said depending anges.

of chambers 12. In a machine for cracking'orreducing gram, a casinghaving upper and lower 'membersprovided with means for detachably Securing them together, the upper casing. member being of substantially semicylindricalform and having'an oblong opening in its convex top, a shaft revolubly mounted within the casing and carrying a plurality of knives, knives projecting from the casing toward said shaft horizontally, and substantially vertically disposed knives above the shaft depending from opposite sides of said opening, a lower curved multiperforated plate underneath said shaft spanning the space between said horizontal knives and curved multi-perforated plates removably secured to and'within said upper casingmember between said horizontal and vertical knives and forming the inner walls I on opposite sides of the casing through which granulated material is conducted into the lower part of the casing.

13. In a machine of. the character described, a casing having an upper member of substantially semi-cylindrical form with knives or cutters projecting inwardly therefrom and having arcuate open spaces or chambers on opposite sides thereof and a rotary cutter therein encircled by a sectional screen consisting of upper perforated curved metal plates forming the inner walls of said arcuate chambers, and a lower perforated curved metal plate underneath the cutter; the bottoms of said chambers havingopenings therein through which granulated material thrown into said chambers by said cutter is conducted into the lower casing member. y 4

14. In a machine of the character described having upper and lower separable casing members and knives or cutters on 0pposite sides of the upper casing member, a shaft carrying a plurality of knives arranged invco-operative relation to the knives on the casing, a curved perforated plate underneath said shaft. and a support for said curved plate consisting of a rod or bar extending lengthwise of the plate about midway thereof underneath its lower convex surface and having cross-armsfat each end, each cross-arm having an apertu'red lug at one end and an open-ended slot at the other end, and means for hinging said cross-arms at one side of the casing and detachably securing them at the other side; said means consisting of pivotally suspended eye-bolts engaging the apertured'lugs on said cross arms atone side of the casing, and other similarly suspended eye-bolts on the other side of the casing engaging the open-ended slots on the other ends of said cross-arms.

15. In a machine for cracking or reducing grain, a casing consisting of a substantially semi-cylindrical member having knives projecting inwardly therefrom and supported upon a base member with its concave knifecarrying surface facing said base member, a shaft revolubly mountedin said casing and carrying a plurality of knives or cutters, the upper casing member having an oblong feed opening in its convex top and provided with depending'marginal flanges on opposite sides of said opening,-shelf-like knife-supports projecting inwardly from opposite sides of the casing toward said shaft, each having a knife'or cutter secured thereto and openings therein through which.

granulated material may fall into the lower casing member, and curved perforated metal plates arranged in circular form around said shaft; the lower perforated plate spanning the space between said knife-supports underneath the shaft, and the upper perforated plates connecting said knife-supports with said depending flanges so as to provide an arcuate space or chamber on each side of the casing above the cutter shaft, between the perforated plate and the inner wall of the casing.

l6.In a machine of'the character described, a casing having an upper member of substantially semi-cylindrical form with a plurality of knives or cutters on each side thereof projecting inwardly therefrom at different angles, and having arcuate open spaces or chambers on opposite sides thereof, a rotary cutter journaled in said casing, a sectional screen extending around said rotary cutter and consisting of upper perforatedrurved metal plates forming the inner walls of said arcuate chambers and a lower perforated curved metal plate underneath the cutter, and knife supports forming the bottoms of said chambers and having openings therein through which granulated material is conducted into the lower casing member.

17. A grain cracking or reducing machine comprising a casing having a feed hopper thereon, rotary knives arranged within the casing below said hopper, stationary knives arranged in co-operative relation to the ro tary knives, and a screen surface which extends across an open space below the rotary that suitable spaces are provided above and below the rotary knivesto receive granulated material which is caused to pass into the lower part of the casing.

18. A grain cracking or reducing machine comprising a casing, rotary knives arranged within the casing, stationary knives arranged in co-operative relation to the rotary knives, a feed hopper arranged above the rotary knives, a curved perforated plate or screen extending across an open'space below the rotary knives through which granulated material passes into the lower part of the casing and perforated plates or screens in the upper part of the casing and spaced therefrom so as to provide suitable spaces above the rotary knives into which granulated material is thrown and caused to pass into said lower part of the casing.

19. A grain cracking or reducing machine comprising a casing having a feed hopper mounted thereon and a shaft journaled therein carrying rotary knives, stationary knives arranged in co-operative relation to the rotary knives, and a screen surface substantially encircling the rotary knives; said screen surface including curved perforated plates or screens which extend across an open space below the rotary knives and above the same; that portion of said screen surface which extends above the rotary knives being spaced fromthe upper part of the casing so that suitable spaces are provided above and below the rotary knives to receive granulated material which gravitat-es into the lower part of the casing.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

SIMON SNYDER. 

